From: tillman@aztec.asu.edu (P.D. TILLMAN)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Short Take: "How Like a God" by Brenda Clough
Date: 10 Sep 1998 17:17:00 -0400
Organization: Rutgers University
Message-ID: <199809102115.OAA15570@aztec2.asu.edu>
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Xref: winter.news.erols.com rec.arts.sf.written:371093



"How Like a God" by Brenda Clough 
(97 hb, 98 pb, Tor, $6)

Rating: "A" -- Gilgamesh as a software engineer, very nicely done.

When I picked up this book, I flipped to the back, read the author's 
note, and sighed -- another urban fantasy. Well, contemporary 
suburban mythic science-fantasy, as it turns out, and ITO very well 
indeed -- Clough has an "appealingly cheeky imagination" and the 
chops to carry thru to a pleasing and satisfying resolution. A 
noteworthy plus is her effortless and accurate drawing of her male 
protagonist -- and, at 288 pages, a refreshing lack of flab. It's written 
in Marvel-comix style -- bright colors & a fast, jumpy plot -- that 
may not appeal to all. Among sfnal Gilgamesh retellings, Clough's 
handily tops Silverberg's, IMO (and for sure the Gil with Robt E. 
"Conan" Howard as Enkidu in one of the "Heros in Hell" 
books...). 

Recommended to both SF and urban-fantasy readers -- not to 
mention suburban mythic science-fantasy (and Spiderman) fans.

Clough has previously written 5 fantasy novels, all OOP - any 
recommendations?  She has also written a sequel to "How Like a 
God"; no publication date announced.

Other opinions:

Christina Schulman's is at:
http://cafe.ambrosiasw.com/~schulman/SF/how-like-a-god.html
Gerald Jonas:  
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/04/06/reviews/970406.6scifi.html#god
(registration required and worthwhile) 
Ed Bell (nice interview + review):
http://www.clark.net/~bell/eibr/interview/clough_brenda_9711.html

-- and more at her nicely done personal website:
http://www.sff.net/people/Brenda/

PS - Clough is pronounced "Cluff", not "Clue."